B.C. LUMBER WORKER

New Program

[wa members in British Columbia are being given the

opportunity this month to back the future of the Union.
The referendum for approval of a $2.00 assessment this
year, which is now under way, will determine whether im-
portant steps may now be taken to consolidate the position
gained by the IWA since October, 1948.

Delegates attending the 1951 District Convention, after,
reviewing the financial position of the District Council,
realized that a weakness in the bank account might result
in a weakness at the bargaining table. They were also
aware of the demands of the membership for an expanded
program of activity in organization, education and safety.
Accordingly, they carefully calculated the minimum
amount required and the least painful method of raising
such a sum.\The referendum is the result, and an empha-
Ties vote will solve some urgent problems for the

The average lumber worker has never been known to
quibble about a $2.00 contribution for his Union from his
year’s earnings if he knows that it will be applied to his
advantage and that of his fellow workers. An examina-
tion of the projects to be made possible by the assessment,
will quickly remove any lingering doubts. The proposed
investment in IWA progress will pay rich dividends in the
months ahead. 3

‘HE administrative responsibilities and work of the Dis-

trict Council have become vastly greater due to the
rapid increase in membership. As it has become impossible
for two full-time officers of the Council to keep pace with
the increasing volume of work, provision was made to
place the 1st Vice-President, Joe Morris, on the District
payroll.

This step will enable the District Officers to give more
adequate attention to the needs of the Interior organiza-
tion, and assist the Interior Local Unions in the develop-
ment of facilities to service their growing membership.

The wisdom of this step is apparent when it is noted
that the membership has doubled since 1948. This in-
crease has been an important achievement which has
brought with it added responsibility in administering the
affairs of the doubled membership. The District organiza-
tion should have the Biatl to do ane job efficiently.

*

NLY one of the four Teeter reer Unions has found it
possible to maintain full-time business agents. The
other three cannot hope to reach a self-sustaining basis
without help from the District in organizational work.
With such help, they have the reasonable hope of securing
independence. An immediate requirement is that the
Interior field staff should be strengthened by subsidies
from the District Council.

This becomes an urgent responsibility of the District
Council in view of the pending contract battle. A well-
organized Interior this year will enormously improve the
possibility of gaining parity with the Coast.

* ee

*

N effective safety program is now recognized as a major
responsibility of the Union. Sufficient progress has
been made to demonstrate that such a program can sub-
stantially lower the accident rate among the workers in the
industry.

To realize the full value of this program it will be
necessary to appoint a full-time District Safety Director.
If this is made possible, he will assist in the organization
of ee, committees in all operations and co-ordinate their
wor!

x OF

J[MPROVED opportunities for IWA members to gain a

sound working knowledge of trade union administration,
grievance procedure, collective bargaining, and labor legis-
lation will develop sound leadership. An educational pro-
gram with these purposes is essential for a thriving trade
union democracy.

Such a program is in prospect, if the assessment is
approved. It must be co-ordinated through and assisted
by the District organization. It will require such facilities
as film programs, instructors, educational material, and
week-end classes. It will require more financial support
than has hitherto been possible.

*

PPROXIMATELY three thousand Chinese workers are
included within the [TWA membership. Hitherto their
requirements have been serviced through an agreement
with the International which has now expired. This special
phase of IWA organization should not now be dropped, and
will not be dropped, if support is rendered through the

assessment.

The District organization is as much a victim of the
rising costs of living as the individual worker. The costs
of supplies, rent, telephone, stenographic help, light, and
extra clerical assistance required have all risen, adding to
administrative costs. In order to maintain efficiency in
administration it is necessary to make provision for these
rising costs.

These are practical considerations which require the
practical action of practical people. Consent for a $2.00
assessment will result in still more important practical
achievement for [WA members. An emphatic “Yes” vote
today will ensure a bigger and better IWA tomorrow.

*

ZiZj\ wrERIOR

WORKER

The Editor:

It is with interest and a good
deal of amusement I read a news
report in the morning edition of

May 16th News-Herald. The news |
| now getting restless and are get-
| ting anxious to get back into the

item reports on the’ discussion
that took place at a meeting of
the Vancouver & District (TLC)
Council.

The discussion was centered
ayound a letter sent to the Goun-
cil by W. Sands, President of the
Okanagan Labor Council (TLC).
From the report it is quite evi-
dent that in letter to the
Council, Bill quite bitterly com-
plained about his organization in
the Okanagan being raided by
the CCL affiliates.

May say that I have a great
deal of personal experience with
what happened and is happening
within the labor circles in the
Okanagan Valley. I am amazed
that Bill who revelled in the dirty
game of raiding only a few short
"s ago, should now be so bit-

complaining. It is quite ap-

parent that the workers whom
Bill has bluffed for the past few
years are getting fed up with his
fancy dancing and are now only
too anxious to get back into the
ranks of honest trade unions,

For the record and speaking
from personal knowledge, here is
what happened. Bill Sands was
for a number of years a promi-
nent official of the Okanagan La-
bor Council (CCL). He was also
at the same time an official of the
CBRE (CCL) organization in the
Okanagan and for a period in
1947 was on the staff of UPWA
(CCL).

However, for reasons quite ob-
vious, Bill decided to throw all
that overboard and strike out in
building an empire for himself
not without assistance from the
various employer groups in the
Okanagan.

Bill proceeded to sabotage the
CCL organization and in particu-
lar the UPWA in the Okanagan
early in the summer of 1947 and
finally the battle came out in the
open. with Bill in the leadership
making and being granted a
charter from the AFL. A series
of raids took place on all or most
of the CCL affiliates in the Oka-

nagan. Bill was immediately as-"

sisted by Wm. Page of the Car-
penters & Joiners, a fellow by
the name of Baker and others.
Through the medium of the
Rand Formula and a great deal
of assistance from the employer
interests everything seemed quite
rosy for a time. However, the

Sekora Raps Former CCL Official

workers in the Okanagan in the
past few years, watching workers
members of genuine trade unions
marching forward to greater
benefits such as wages, etc., are

ranks of militant (CCL) trade
unions.

No one need fear that any raid-
ing is being contemplated, how-
ever, it is my belief that the rank

and file worker is going to be
given a chance to become a mem-
ber of an organization that ne-~
gotiates its agreements after a
legitimate request of the workers
on the job. Instead of the prac-
tice of signing an agreement
through a backdoor method, and
then telling the workers to get
in or get out of the job.

MIKE SEKORA,

International Organizer,

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